Automatically operated valve



Oct. 20, 1942. A. B. NEWTON AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED VALVE Filed Oct. 28, 1939 iIl-III-aul III I I l I I II Alwim. B. Navy-ton.

Patented Oct, 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE] I I 2,299,4o4 I Alwin B. Newton, Minnea eaDolis-lione to Minn Minneapolis,

polls, Minn., assignmywell Regulator Company,

., a corporation of Delaware Application October 28, 1939, Serial No. 301,858 14 Claims. (Cl. 137-139) This invention relates to an automatically operated valve and while it is of general application it is particularly useful in the system disclosed in application Serial No. 243,808 filed by William L. McGrath on December 3, 1938, and now Patent No. 2,237,261, granted April 1, 1941.

In the aforementioned McGrath application a solenoid valve located in the suction line from an evaporator is controlled by a relay having a maintaining switch by a thermostat responsive to the temperature being controlled and byfa switching means responsive to the pressure in the evaporator. The arrangement is such that the solenoid valve is opened only when. the thermostat is calling for cooling and the evaporator pressure has risen to a defrosting value and is closed when either the thermostat becomes satisfied or the evaporator pressure decreases to a predetermined low value. The prime objct of this invention is to provide a unitary control arrangement for accomplishing .this sequence of operation and for accomplishing it with a fewer number of parts. In carrying out this invention, the relay is entirely elimievaporator pressure responsive switching means as well as the maintaining The which in turn is controlled pressure responsive device in addition to operating the switching means also serves asa seal ofi" for the solenoid valve.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon refer- .a compressor 2i 4 erant leaving the evaporator i2.

erally designated at I8 is located in the suction lineleading from the evaporator 13 and this valve in addition to being controlled by the pressure in the evaporator I 3 is also controlled by a thermostat generally designated at 19 responsive to the temperature in the fixture II.

The refrigerating apparatus 14 may comprise operated by an electric motor 22. Compressed refrigerant I compressor 2i through a high pressure line 23 to a condenser 24. The condensed refrigerant is collected in a receiver 25 and flows through a liquid line 26 to the evaporator 82. Evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn 52 through a suction line .21 by the compressor 2| and as pointed out above the valve lfiis interposed in the "suction line 21 leading from the evaporator i2; evaporator '02 is thermostatic expansion valve 28 having a bulb 29 responding to the temperature of the refrig- Liquid refrigerant is also supplied through a branch liquid line 25' to the evaporator it of the fixture ii and evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator i3 through a branch suction line 21' As pointed out above .the valve i8 is included in the branch suction line 27. The supply of refrigerant to the evaporator 13 may also be controlled by a thermostatic expansion ence to the accompanying specification, claims' and drawing in which is diagramatically illustrated the preferred form of this invention.

For purposes of illustration the automatically operated valve is shown for use in a multiple fixture refrigerating apparatus of the type disclosed in the aforementioned McGrath appli- Two fixtures are designated at it and H and these fixtures i2 and I3, respectively. The evaporators l2 and iii are arranged in parallel and refrigerant is circulated through these evaporators by a rerefrigerating apparatus generally designated at M. The refrigerating apparatus is in turn' controlled "by a combination suction pressure and head pressure switching mechanism generally designated at IS. The valve of this invention is generally designated at I6 and is located in thesuction line leading from the evaporator 12, this valve 28' having a bulb 29' responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the evaporator i3.

The combined suction pressure and head presfggj sure responsive controller i5 may be of the type are cooled by evaporators shown in application Serial No. 196,447 filed by Albert L. Judson and Carl G. Kronmiller on March 1.7, 1938; and now Patent No. 2,244,783, granted June 10, 194

2i and is connected by a pipe 3'2 to the condenser 2@ so that it is operated in response to changes in suction pressure and head pressure. Power is supplied to the compressor motor 22 by means of line wires 33 and 34 leading from some source of power not shown. When the suction pressure increases to a predeterminedhigh value and the head pressure decreases to a predetermined low value a circuit is completed from the line wire 33 through wire 35, controller l5, wire 36, compressor motor 22 and wire 31 back to the other line wire 34 to cause operation of the compressor 2!. When either the suction pressure decreases to headpressure increases to a predetermined high passes from the from the evaporator The flow of refrigerant to the controlled by a conventional- This controller is con- I so nec'ted by a pipe 3! to the suction pressure line a, predetermined low value or thesurrounding ing coil 54.

' the sleeve 52 for limiting The automatically operated valve 16 may comprise a valve casing 40 separated by a partition 4! to. form an inlet chamber 42 and an outlet chamber 43. Located in the partition M is a valve seat M which is opened'and closed by a valve element 85. The valve element 45 is connected to a valve stem 46 provided with a lower abutment Bland an upper abutment 48. Slidably mounted on the stem 40 between the abutments 81 and 4B is an armature 49 formed of magnetic material. when the armature 49 is raised it engages the upper abutment 48 to lift the valve element 45 of! of the seat 44 with a hammer action and when the armature 49 is allowed to lower it engages the lower abutment 41 to move the valve element 45 against the seat 44 with a-hammer action.

Screw threadedly mounted on the valve casing 40 is a member to which is soldered or otherwise suitably secured a sleeve 52 formed of nonmagnetic material. The armature 49 moves longitudinally within the sleeve 52. A stop 50 suitably secured inthe sleeve ,52 limits the upward movement of the armature 49. Mounted around the sleeve 52 andformed of magnetic material is a collar 53 and resting on-this collar 53 and also the sleeve 52 is an electrical operat- The collar 53 and the operating coil 54 are held in place by a casing 55 also made of magnetic material, the casing 55 being screw threaded on the member 5| and also being provided with an intumed flange 55 for holding the operating coil 54 in place. Mounted on the flange 56 is a bracket 5 to mounted an armature 58 formed of magnetic material. The armature 58 surrounds the sleeve 52 and is provided with a contact 59 which is adapted to engage a stationary contact 60. When the operating coil 54 is energized a magnetic circuit is completed from the armature 49 through collar 53. casing 55, intumed flange 5B and armature 58 back to the armature 49 to raise the armature 49 in the sleeve 52 for opening the valve and to move the armature 58' downwardly to cause movement of contact 59 into engagement with I contact 60. -When the operating coil is deenergized the magnetic circuit is interrupted, the armature 19 is moved downwardly by gravity to close the valve and the armature 50 is moved upwardly by means of a spring. not shown.

soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the sleeve 52 is a bellows 6! having a movable wall t2 and this bellows seals of! the sleeve 52 so that refrigerant can not escape therefrom. The bellows BI is influenced by the pressure on the upstream side of the valve and hence the pressure in the evaporator l2 and the bellows 8i in accordance with this pressure operates a plunger 63 for in turn operating a lever 84 pivoted at one end to the bracket 51. The lever 84 is urged in the opnosite direction by an adjustable tension spring 65; One end of the tension spring W5 is con-' nected to a lug 68 struck ing 55 and the'other end is secured to an adjustable screw arrangement 81. Bysuitably adjusting the tension in the spring 65 the pressure values at which'the lever 94 is operated may be varied. A cup member 88 is suitably secured to the upward movement of the bellows 6! to prevent rupture of the same.

A contact member is carried by an insulating which is pivotally upwardly from the casgages the contact member 1| and when the pres-,

tacts carried -81; contact member 1i, contact cannot again pad which in-turn is carried by the lever as and this contact member 10 is adapted to engage conby a contact member ii and a contact member 12. The contact members it and B2 are carried by leaf springs 13 which are in turn insulatingly secured to the bracket t1. The

leaf springs 13 urge the contact members 1i and 12 into engagement with concentrically mounted and independently rotated cams 1d and '15. By-

suitably rotating the cams l5 and 1% contact members 1! and 12 may be independently adjustedwith respect to the contact member 10.

For purposes of illustration it is assumed that I within the evaporator I2 incontact member 10 enwhen the pressure creases to 15 pounds the sure increases to 35 pounds the contact member 10 engages the contact member 12. Conversely when the pressure contact member 10 disengages the contact member 12 and'when the pressure decreases to 15 pounds the contact member 10 disengages the contact member 1|. The concentrically located cams 14 and 15 are carriedby a suitable bracket 16.

The thermostat comprise a bellows 90 charged with a volatile fluid for operating a lever ll against the action of an adjustable tension spring 82. The lever II in turn operates a mercury switch I3 and for purposes of illustration it is assumed that when the temperature within the fixture l0 rises to 40 the mercury switch is closed and when the temperature decreases to 38 the mercury opened. I I

.With the parts in the positions shown in the drawing the temperature within the fixture I9 is below 40 and the pressure in the evaporator I! is below 15 pounds. Assume now perature within the fixture lli'rises to 40 to close the mercury switch 83 and that the pressure 1 within the evaporator l2 following defrosting thereof rises to 35 pounds to move the contact member into engagement with the contact members 1i and 12. This completes a starting circuit from the line wire 33 through wires 85 and st, mercury switch as, wire t1, contact mem- Movement of the contact t9 into engagement with the contact 30 completes a maintairung cirline wire 33' switch as, wire cult which may be traced from the through wires s5 and as, mercury member 1%, wire 92, contacts W and @0, wire as, operating coil 5%, and wires 89 and 90 back to the other line wire 8%. Completion of this circuit maintains the operating coil to energized open until either the fixture l0 decreases to switch as or until the orator it decreases to 15 pounds to move the contact member 19 out or engagement with the contact member ll. when either of these contingencies occur the operatingcoil 54 is deepergized to close the valve 45 and the operating coll be reenergized until both the temdecreases to 35 pounds the n within the fixture l0 may switch is that the temand hence the valve fill. temperature within the, 38 to open the mercury trols the operation perature within the fixture rises to 40 and the pressure in the evaporator l2 rises to 35 pounds following defrosting of the same.

The thermostat IS in the fixture II is identical to the thermostat l1 in the fixture l and it conof the valve It in exactly the the scope or the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination, a valve for controlling the 2. In combination, a valve for controlling the flow of a the electrical operating 0011' for controlling the energization 01 the latter.

3. In combination, a valve for controlling the flow of a fluid and performing the se- 3 sleeve being in communication with the fluid on the upstream sideof the valve, an electrical operating coil exterior of the sleeve for movingthe thereof for when the electrical operating coilis energized, a movable wall for sealing the sleeve to prevent the escape of fluid therefrom and movable in accordance with the pressure of the fluid being controlled, a pair of switches sequentially opened and closed by said movable wall, connections between the second to close of the sequentially operated switches and the operating coil for energizing the latter, and connections between the first to close of the sequentially operated switches, the switch operated by'the second armature and the electrical operating coil id: maintaining the latter energized.

9. In combination-a valve for controlling the flow of a fluid and including a Valve seat and a movable valve element cooperating therewith, an armature for moving the valve element, a sleeve within which said armature moves, the interior of said sleeve being in communication with the fluid being controlled, an electrical operating coil exterior of the sleeve for energizing a magnetic circuit upon energization thereof for moving the armature, a switch, a second armature included in said magnetic circuit for closing. the switch when the electrical operating coil is energized, a movable wall for sealing the sleeve to prevent the escape or fluid therefrom and movable in acthe pressure of the fluid being controlled, a switch operated by said movable wall, a remotely located switch, connections between the remotely located switch, the switch operated by the movable wall and the electrical operating coil for energizing the latter, and connections between the remotely located switch, the switch operated by the second armature and the electrical operating coil for maintaining the latter energized.

10. In combination, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid and including a valveseat and a movable valve element cooperating therewith, an the valve element, a sleeve within which said armature moves, the interior of said sleeve being in communication with the fluid being controlled, an electrical operating coil exterior of the sleeve for energizing a magnetic circuit upon energization thereof for moving the armature, a switch, a second armature included in said magnetic circuit for closing the switch when the electrical operating coil is energized, a movable wall for sealing the sleeve to prevent the escape of fluid therefrom and movable in acof the fluid being cordance with the pressure controlled, a pair of switches sequentially opened and closed by the movable wall, a remotely located switch, connections between the remotely located switch, the second to close of the sequentially operated switches and the electrical operating coil for energizing the latter, and connec-- tions between the remotely located switch, the first to close of the sequentially operated switches, the switchoperated by the second armature and the electrical operaing coil for maintaining the latter energized.

11. In combination, a valve for controlling the flow of a fluid and including a valve seat and a movable valve element cooperating therewith, an armature for moving the valve element, a sleeve within which said armature moves, the interior of said sleeve being in communication fluid on the upstream side of the valve, an electrical operating'coil exterior of the sleeve for energizing a magnetic circuit upon energization moving the armature, a switch, a second armature included in said magnetic circuit for closing the switch when the electrical operata movable wall for sealing theescape of fluid thereaccordance with the presthe upstream side of the operated by said movable between the switching means, theswitch and the electrical operating means for controlling the energization of the latter in accordance with the pressure on the upstream side of the valve. I

12. In combination, a valve for controllingthe flow of a fluid and including a valve seat and a ing coil is energized, the sleeve to prevent from and movable'in sure of the fluid on valve, switching means wall and connections movable valve element cooperating therewith, an

armature-for moving the valve element, a sleeve within which said armature moves, the interior of said sleeve being in communication with the fluid on the upstream side of the valve, an electrical operating coil exterior of the sleeve for energizing a magnetic circuit upon energization thereof for moving the armature, 0nd armature included in said magnetic circuit for closing the switch when the electrical operating coil is energized, a movable wall for sealing the sleeve to prevent the escape of fluid therefrom and movable in accordance with the pressure of the fluid on the upstream side of the valve, a pair of switches operated by said movable wall and sequentially closed upon a pressure increase and sequentially opened upon a pressure decrease, connections between the second to close of the sequentially operated switches and the electrical operating coil for energizing the latter when the pressure increases to a predetermined high value, and connections between the first to close or the sequentially operated switches, the switch operated by the second armature and the electrical operating coil formaintaining the latter energized until predetermined low value.

13. In combination, a valve for controllin the flow of a fluid and including a valve seat and a movable valve element cooperating therewith, an armature for moving the valv element, a sleeve within which said armature moves, the interior of said sleeve being in communication with the fluid on the upstream side of the valve, an

coil exterior of the sleeve for second armature included in said magnetic circuit for closing the switch when the electrical operatingcoil is energized, a movable wall for sealing the sleeve to prevent the escape of fluid therefrom and movable in accordance with the pressure of the fluid on the upstream side of the valve, a switch closed by the movable wall when the pressure increases to a predetermined value, a remotely located switch, connections between the remotely located switch, the switch operated by the movable wall and the electrical operating coil for energizing the latter when the pressure increases to the predetermined value, and connections between theremotely located switch, the switch operated by the second armature and the electrical operating coil for maintaining the latter energized. v

'14. In combination, a valve for controlling the flow of a fluid and including a valve seat and a movable valve element cooperating therewith, an armature for moving the valve element, a sleeve within which said armature moves, the interior of said sleeve being in communication with the fluid on the upstream side of the valve, an electrical operating coil exterior of the sleeve for energizing a magnetic circuit upon energization a switch, a secthereof for moving the armature, a switch, a second armature included in said magnetic circuit for closing the switch when the electrical operating coil is energized, a movable wall for sealing the sleeve to prevent the escape of fluid therefrom and movable in accordance with the pressure of the fluid on the upstream side of the valve, 9. pair of switches operated by said movable wall and sequentially closed upon a pressure increase and sequentially opened upon a pressure decrease, a. remotely located switch, connections between the remotely located switch, the second 10 mined low value or the remotely located switch is opened.

. ALWIN B. N. 

